HELSINKI — Assistant coach Dominique Ducharme has decided to stay with Canada’s national junior hockey team after his father’s death.
Ducharme learned of his father Jacques’s passing after Tuesday’s 3-2 shootout win over Switzerland.
“Our hearts go out to Dom and his family during this difficult time,” Scott Salmond, vice-president of hockey operations and national teams for Hockey Canada, said in a statement. “We fully support Dom; he is a valuable member of this team and of our coaching staff.
“We extend sincere condolences to the Ducharme family back in Canada.”
Ducharme, who is also the head coach of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Halifax Mooseheads, will remain with the Canadian squad through the end of the world junior hockey championship event.
Ducharme was on the ice for Canada’s morning practice Wednesday but unavailable to speak with reporters.
“That just shows you what this (tournament) means to him,” said head coach David Lowry. “I know he had a very strong relationship with his dad.
“It’s unfortunate what happened last night but his dad would expect him to carry on, push on and he got the same encouragement from his mom.”
